We are proud to present LI-RTAC’s Winter 2025 report, “Pathways to Progress: Strengthening the Universal Pre-K Landscape on Long Island”. We hope it will serve as a catalyst in supporting conversations, collaborations, and changes in policy and culture impacting our region’s early learners. The information captured is a window into key trends and recommendations for strengthening and growing Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) on Long Island.
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“Docs for Tots”: Local pediatricians working to find and address problems early
“In the old days people would say, ‘Let’s wait six months’ [if a child wasn’t meeting milestones],” says Dr. Elizabeth Isakson, the executive director of a Queens-based nonprofit called Docs for Tots. “But a child’s brain develops at such a rate that this is not the time to wait six months.” Continue Reading
Free teacher’s guide to help foster appreciation of outdoors
Free from Head Start is a comprehensive teacher’s reference, Our Natural World. The 73-page publication is organized into 16 different “experiences,” including color in nature, sounds, wind, and that important question “what is alive?” Each comes with a materials list, suggested books and a very detailed outline on how to approach the recommended activities.
Recommended books include Is it Alive?, I Took a Walk and The Very Noisy Night.
Download the publication here.
1000 Books Before K: Nat’l Program is a hit on Long Island
1000 Books Before K: Nat’l Program is a hit on Long Island
Public libraries are partners In early literacy efforts
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It’s a simple concept: the more young children are read to by parents and caregivers, the better their language development and literacy skills. This is the fundamental idea behind 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, a movement spearheaded by a national nonprofit (www.1000booksbeforekindergarten.org) and offered her on Long Island by dozens of Nassau and Suffolk libraries. Continue Reading
Free reference from libraries on local nature resources
Local librarians have a handy resource for helping young children develop an appreciation of the natural world—and they’re happy to share their ideas with Pre-K educators. Growing Nature Literacy in Libraries Resource Book is a free, downloadable guide to all things outdoors. It was published by the Middle Country Public Library with a grant from National Grid.
State Education Department checklist aids in transition planning
Though it has an intimidating name: “Tool to Assess the Effectiveness of Transitions from Prekindergarten to Kindergarten,” this checklist quite easy to use—it has recently been redesigned with color-coded categories.
The downloadable document is divided into three areas: community early childhood programs, professional development and instruction. With these areas are items educators can rank from “not at all considered” to “ almost always considered. Continue Reading
Early Learning Guidelines map development birth-5
The New York State Early Learning Guidelines are intended for all early childhood professionals. The document is a helpful resource to refer to when it comes to how children learn and develop—and includes milestones for different ages, side-by-side. Continue Reading
Public libraries are “ready to read,” too
Many families already go to their local libraries for programs like story times, but there’s a growing awareness that young children need more in order to be prepared to succeed once they start school–and that some children aren’t being included at all. A new initiative, Ready to Read at New York Libraries, will roll out various programs over the next five years. Each library system has a cohort who will be trained in core strategies. First up: how to assess community and families’ needs, establish community partnerships, and teach child-care providers and families pre-reading strategies. (Note the emphasis on families, not just children.) “We’ve had a great start with the initiative. Training has begun and I will be adding more in each year of the project.” says the Nassau Library System’s Manager of Youth Services, Renee McGrath, “We’re excited to be part of the project.” (The Suffolk Library System is also participating.) Check out these newly created online resources: Continue Reading